Elves are not only a key race in Baldur's Gate 3, they're well regarded across the fantasy genre. It's a safe bet that even people who aren't a part of these circles likely know of Elves through some medium or another. Roleplaying one in the game will be a popular and smart choice.
Gamers who have an affinity for Elves will find themselves with several different class choices in Baldur's Gate 3. The subraces provide more diversity within the race itself and empower the player to pick a class and play that class at the highest level.
High Elf - Wizard
A High Elf is one of the best races for a Wizard in the game. With high Intelligence and Dexterity to help with Armor Class, it's a fit across attribute lines. But with multiple caster choices, the Wizard's variety is a particularly good fit for the High Elves.
The biggest advantage to the Wizard is the variety in the spellbook. The bonus Cantrip given to High Elves further increases the number of spells the Wizard has in their arsenal. The High Elf Wizard is prepared for combat and social encounters.
Wood Elf - Ranger
With a +2 to Dexterity and a maximum speed, the Wood Elf is as good as it gets for a Ranger class. After grabbing some inspiration, the Wood Elf Ranger is a lethal sniper that can strike from the shadows thanks to the Wood Elf's Stealth proficiency.
Players who prefer melee Ranger builds will still find what they need in the Wood Elf. The speed helps the character close the gap and the Stealth allows players to strike first. The extra Wisdom is what the Rangers use for casting their spells so that extra attribute is in the perfect place.
High Elf - Archer Fighter
The Wizard is the only primarily Intelligence-based class in the game but the Fighter makes surprisingly good use of the extra Intelligence point for the High Elf with the skills selection. Also, the extra Cantrip can allow the High Elf to buff their own attacks as a Fighter.
Archery is the ideal subclass here to capitalize on the +2 Dexterity the race provides. Playing with friends can place buddies in competition but the High Elf Fighter is about as good as martial damage gets.
Wood Elf - Rogue
Without much question, the Wood Elf is one of the best races for the Rogue. The Rogue often wants to get in close to deliver Sneak Attack damage and the Wood Elf's speed and automatic proficiency in Stealth assist with the entire maneuver.
Ranger Rogues get even more out of the Wood Elf who is proficient with a powerful Longbow, a weapon not normally available for use in the Rogue class. This kind of edge makes the Wood Elf close to mandatory for a primarily ranged Rogue.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available in Early Access on PC and will be available on August 3rd, 2023. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.